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Dear Legalbeagles,
Several years ago, i agreed to let bank smart do a once only pip check and pursue any claims. Once this was complete, I informed them i no longer required their services. However, since then I have been continually harassed with demands for ever increasing payments for services i did not agree to. They deny / disagree / ignore that I asked them to attempt no further searches of my account in 2015 (after conclusion of their initial searches and services) and to cease attempting to make searches on my wife’s credit reference account history, for which they have categorically never received permission in any way, shape or form.
I have recently received demands from a third party, a Solicitor specialising in collection of debt (WilsonRose - based in Leeds) but having shown them correspondence with yourselves and a legal advisor have decided not to proceed with the case and return the demand to Bank-Smart.
Due to the fact I spend extended periods abroad in employment, I requested from Bank-Smart that any further correspondence be submitted by email only, to which they ignored my request and continue to send repetitive mail to my home address. This is causing untold stress and strain upon my wife (already serving in high stress employment with the emergency services and also cares for her sick mother) who checks my mail.
After conducting some initial investigations of my own I have ascertained that this company specialises in heavy handed tactics and threats to gain payment from vulnerable or gullible individuals, and while they may technically practice within the law, i believe their methods to be underhand & immoral in order to make financial gain, denying knowledge of verbal agreement made on the phone despite stating they record conversations.
Coincidentally, as the deadline for making PPI claims grows ever closer, their efforts seem to have been renewed with more vigour.
I am now looking for some form of assistance, advice, recommendations or formal action or notice be undertaken by myself as i have been advised that legally, this continual harassment constitutes a criminal and civil offence.
I contest their opinion that, after their initial services, I agreed for them to make continual searches for more claims on my behalf.
Please find attached letters received today making yet further demands. Also of note is that there are no telephone numbers available, so I cannot converse with someone directly to address this matter.
I am now in receipt of demands for monies owe from a company call “Mil Collections”. Upon my own investigation and online searches, it appears this company is somehow linked to Bank-Smart and harasses individuals along similar lines with letters with no email contact address. It appears this company has been allowed to get away with this kind of “business” for at least 10 years, having been taken to court and lost numerous times.
I would like to know what my options are. I’ve been informed taking formal legal action may not be the best course of action as i may end up with a large legal bill and court costs which defeats the object in the first place,
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